The National League South Title Race: The Tightest Promotion battle In Football?

The National League South final day is approaching this weekend, and there is still everything to play for at the top of the table. With there only being one automatic promotion spot available, the top six teams in the league are still within a chance of that automatic promotion spot. It is going to go down to the wire, but who is in the fight? And who is going to come out on top?

National League South heading into the final day might be the most competitive league ever 😳 pic.twitter.com/g636iggWo3

— tomhwilliams23 (@tomhwilliams23) April 21, 2025

Truro City- 1st (86 pts)

Next Opponent: St Albans

Going into the final day, Truro City are the side who hold that top spot at the moment, although they are level on points with Torquay United, with a goal difference of two separating the sides.

Truro are up against St Albans, who are sat in the relegation zone, and a win on the final day could rescue them from relegation. On paper, the game may look like a walkover for Truro, but St Albans have a lot to play for too, and anything can happen in non league football, so we could see Truro fall at the last hurdle.

Truro recently lost 1-0 to promotion rivals Torquay, but have topped the table for a long time now, and it would be a tough loss to take if they were to miss out on the final day.

Goals shouldn't be a struggle for the side, as they have Tyler Harvey playing up front, who has scored the most goals in the league. Winger Jaze Kabia will also cause problems all game, as he has netted sixteen times across the season.

It is all in Truro's hands on the final day, and as long as they win their game and Torquay don't win and outscore them by two, then Truro will be heading up the divisions.

Torquay United- 2nd (86 Pts)

Next opponent: Hemel Hempstead

Torquay follow close behind Truro, with only goal difference splitting the two teams heading into the final day.

Torquay have been in strong form recently, winning their last game 3-0 against Weymouth.

They also have lost the least amount of games all season, losing just seven.

The Yellows will be up against midtable side Hemel Hempstead on the final day. Hemel have nothing to play for, and this could present a good opportunity for Torquay, playing a team who could be 'on the beach' already.

The Gulls have only scored 69 goals all season, the second least out of all sides in the top six, with Cody Cooke scoring the most for the side with seventeen goals.

Former Exeter star man Matt Jay joined the side in January, and has already contributed seven goals, and he could make the difference to Torquay's promotion chances.

Being level with Truro on points leaves Torquay in a good position, only needing to outscore their promotion rivals by three goals to achieve that automatic promotion spot.

Eastbourne Borough- 3rd (85 Pts)

Next Opponent: Weston Super Mare

Sussex based Eastbourne Borough follow behind closely with 85 points, and could sneak into the top spot if Truro and Torquay slip up.

Eastbourne are up against it, facing eighth place Weston Super Mare, who could get into the playoff positions with a win. However, Eastbourne are in a strong position, having only lost once in their last twelve matches, losing out to fellow playoff side Dorking Wanderers.

Known as the Sports, Eastbourne have scored the least amount of goals out of all top six sides, scoring sixty-seven all season. They will be heavily reliant on George Alexander, who has scored 24 times across this season, and he will need his shooting boots if Eastbourne want to budge their way into the top spot.

Worthing- 4th (85 Pts)

Next Opponent: Enfield Town

Level on points with Eastbourne, Worthing too could capitalise on the top two sides slipping up on the final day.

Compared to other sides, Worthing could consider themselves playing a more favourable opponent in Enfield Town, who sit 19th in the table.

However, Enfield could still be relegated if Salisbury and St Albans win, so they will not be relaxed going into this game, and won't make it easy for Worthing.

Worthing have been considered favourites at times this season, receiving praise for their more modern approach to football. The Sussex side have scored 73 times this season, with Danny Cashman, Liam Nash and Muhammadu Faal all scoring ten goals or more across the season.

Unfortunately, achieving an automatic promotion spot could be tough for Worthing, as there goal difference is lower than Eastbourne's, and they will have to rely on Torquay and Truro to also slip up. It is the National League, where anything is possible, but relying on three sides to lose could be too much of a big ask going into the final game of the season.

Boreham Wood- 5th (83 Pts)

Next Opponent: Tonbridge Angels

The chances of Boreham Wood winning the league are very low, needing all 4 sides above them to lose to have a chance. They do have the best goal difference however, which may help them finish higher up the table, even if they don't win the league.

However, the Hertforshire based side have lost twelve times, the most out of any top six side, which has came back to bite them. They have also not had a good record against teams around them in the table, winning just one game against a top six side this season.

Ultimately, their failure to pick up points against teams above them in the table is what will cost Boreham heading into the final game, and although the top spot is mathematically possible, the playoffs look like the most reasonable position for Boreham this season.

Former Colchester Striker Kwesi Appiah has scored 24 times for the side this season, whilst Matt Rush is also enjoying his best season in his career, scoring fourteen times in just 24 games, and if he had been available for more games, then we could be talking completely differently about how Boreham Wood's season has been this year.

28 in all competitions, what a season for our number 14! ⭐️#WeAreTheWood pic.twitter.com/x0wt34BqzS

— Boreham Wood FC (@BOREHAM_WOODFC) April 21, 2025

Dorking Wanderers- 6th (83 Pts)

Next Opponent: Chesham United

To football fans who don't follow Non League closely, Dorking Wanderers could be the most well known side appearing in this list. Known for their strong social media presence, Marc Whites side have underperformed compared to what was expected of them this season.

Following their relegation from the National League last season, Dorking looked like they had the ability to achieve promotion straight away, but they currently look to be heading for the playoffs, where they could yet still be promoted.

Dorking have scored the most out of all sides in the title race, scoring 87 times all season, with Alfie Rutherford, Charlie Carter and Jason Prior all netting over ten times this season.

The Wanderers will face Chesham United on the final day, who currently sit fourteenth in the table, ultimately having nothing to play for, which could of course play into Marc White's hands.

Anyone who keeps up with Dorking's season has seen the type of manager Marc White is, and will know he will be able to rally up his players, and get them firing for a big game. Dorking can't be caught by Maidstone behind them, and with the top spot looking highly unlikely, a win for them may not do much, although if they could sneak into second or third they will be automatically through to the play off semi finals.

Marc White ahead of our final game of the season at Meadowbank this Saturday 🗣️

Our home fixture vs Chesham is ALL TICKET, meaning you have to secure your ticket online in advance 🎟️

Join a huge crowd at Meadowbank on Saturday below ⤵️https://t.co/yOsHY9R7Zo pic.twitter.com/1cDtR22yLR

— Dorking Wanderers FC (@DorkingWDRS) April 22, 2025